The Best Moisturizer for Black Skin for 2025
If you’re looking for the best moisturizer for black skin, you’ve come to the right place!
The best moisturizers for dark skin types are extra emollient and contain skin-loving ingredients to protect the skin and help issues most common to melanin-rich skin types.
In this post, I’ve curated a list of the best face moisturizers for black skin and body moisturizers for dark skin types.
Let’s get started.
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Let’s Begin by addressing some common concerns and skin conditions in darker skin types.
Common Concerns and Skin Conditions for Black Skin
Dry or Ashy skin
Ashy skin is just dry skin that is more apparent and visible in people of color.
An ash-like coating can make the skin look dull, gray, or chalky. In addition, ashy skin can feel dry, tight, and painful.
Hyperpigmentation in dark skin
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skincare concerns for people with darker skin tones.
This is a condition where darker patches are visible on the skin’s surface.
It is more common in people with darker skin tones but can affect anyone.
Related article: The Best Face Washes for Hyperpigmentation
Eczema in Dark Skin
While eczema can affect anyone, it’s more common in darker skin types and can become more severe (source)
Acne-prone skin
Acne can leave dark spots are left behind after acne clears.
Therefore, it’s essential to use the best products with active ingredients to help treat acne and to reduce or eliminate dark spots on dark skin.
Essential Ingredients: Moisturizing Dark Skin Types
When shopping for the best moisturizer for black skin, it’s essential to understand what ingredients to look for.
The best moisturizers will contain rich ingredients like natural oils and butter to help lock in moisture and promote skin health, along with ingredients like peptides, alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and sunscreen.
Shea Butter
Shea butter comes from the oils of the shea tree, which is native to Central Africa.
The rich oils are used in skin care products as well as hair care products. It’s an emollient that coats skin in healthy fats.
Jojoba Oils
The wax from the jojoba shrub is an effective moisturizing ingredient.
There are also synthetic versions that are just as effective as the natural ingredient.
You can find them in hair conditioners and moisturizers for the skin.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil helps to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
It also reduces inflammation, making it a good choice for irritated or chafed skin.
Olive Oil
Olive oil applied to the skin may help prevent premature aging. The moisturizing effect of olive oil may keep the skin moist and supple.
The fat-soluble vitamins in olive oil may benefit the skin and treat certain skin conditions.
Mineral oil
It can help to soften, cleanse, and moisturize the skin.
Mineral oil is an example of an occlusive moisturizer.
Lanolin
Lanolin is an oil that comes from sheep wool.
It’s a heavy ingredient that replaces lost moisture in the skin. It also has healing effects, so it may help cracked or sore skin feel better.
Hyaluronic acid
Hydraulic acid adds moisture to the skin.
Hydraulic acid draws moisture to your skin and plumps up the skin, giving it a younger, healthier appearance!
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid can help make your skin look brighter and smoother and help with uneven skin tone.
It can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Antioxidants for Black Skin
Antioxidants help protect the skin’s surface from oxidative damage caused by free radicals and environmental aggressors like UV and pollution.
- Vitamin C.
- Niacinamide.
- Resveratrol.
- Vitamin E.
- Retinol (Vitamin A)
Glycolic acid + Salicylic acid.
Alpha hydroxy acids slough off dead skin cells.
They can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation.
They also help to improve the overall texture of the skin.
Both glycolic acid and salicylic acids can help to treat acne for all skin types.
Fatty Acids
Fatty acids may provide various benefits for the skin.
Benefits include improving the appearance of aged, tired-looking skin, providing moisturization-free radical protection, and promoting healthy cell function.
Sun protection
Sunscreen is key to protecting skin from sun damage that can lead to discoloration and even skin cancers.
The Best Moisturizer for Black Skin
Now that you know what skin-loving ingredients to look for, let’s take a closer look at some of the best face moisturizers for black skin and the best body lotions for black skin on the market today.
Related article: The Best Face Washes For Black Skin
The Best Face Moisturizers for Black Skin
When looking for the best facial moisturizer for darker skin tones, it’s essential to look for skincare products that will provide deep hydration to the skin along with active skin ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin B, amino acids, and antioxidants.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
CeraVe products are amazing! This is a wonderful daytime face moisturizer for black skin because it contains so many skin-loving ingredients!
This lightweight moisturizer is formulated with three essential ceramides to help restore the skin’s natural barrier, as well as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, to help hydrate and brighten skin.
Fragrance-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic. Suitable for dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, and acne-prone skin
It contains road-spectrum SPF 30 to protect the skin from harmful sun rays.
Shop This Moisturizer: Target, Walmart, and Ulta Beauty
CreaVe PM Facial Moisturizer
This a fantastic choice for a face moisturizer for black skin, and it can be used day and night!
Cerave’s PM face cream contains niacinamide to help calm the skin and uses MVE Technology to deliver hydration throughout the night. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help retain the skin’s moisture.
Formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier
Fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Target, Walmart, and Ulta Beauty
Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer
Positively radiant daily moisturizer is an advanced, lightweight moisturizer that helps improve skin tone and texture.
It contains a unique combination of ingredients to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The formula also includes antioxidants for added protection against damaging free radicals.
Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue.
Shop this Face moisturizer for Black Skin: Target, Ulta Beauty, and Walmart
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is an excellent option for dry or sensitive skin.
It’s a light-textured moisturizer that leaves skin feeling balanced, comfortable, and hydrated.
The formula helps protect against skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
Help skin maintain its natural moisture reserves; this superb moisturizer leaves skin soft, smooth, and healthy-looking.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Nordstrom
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair moisturizer is perfect for face moisturizer for all skin types!!
This light, non-greasy formula helps hydrate and nourish skin while providing antioxidant protection.
It’s even fragrance-free, so it’s ideal for sensitive skin. Plus, it’s perfect for use morning or night.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Ulta Beauty, and Target, Walmart
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is a great face moisturizer for dark skin because it is so emollient!
This rich moisturizer helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
It contains peptides and hyaluronic acid to nourish and plump your skin and sunscreen to protect it from the sun’s harmful rays that can cause damage to the skin and even skin cancer.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Ulta Beauty, Target, and Walmart
Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Hydrating Moisturizer
Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Hydrating Moisturizer with Antioxidants.
This lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer contains a blend of antioxidants that helps to protect the skin from environmental damage while hydrating and nourishing the skin.
It is also free of fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
Find this Face moisturizer: Paula’sChoice.com, Nordstrom, and Dermstore.com
Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream
Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream is intended for dry skin, making it a great moisturizer for dark skin types.
It contains hyaluronic acid to retain water and boost hydration all day or as a nighttime moisturizer.
This lightweight cream absorbs quickly, won’t clog pores, is fast absorbing, and is non-greasy.
It contains no fragrance and is hypoallergenic.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Target, and Walmart
Pond’s Dark Spot Corrector Clarant B3 Moisturizer
Pond’s Dark Spot Corrector Clarant B3 contains Vitamin B3, which is known to help fade dark spots and achieve an even skin tone.
This dermatologist-tested formula also helps correct and prevent the appearance of new dark spots.
Apply it twice a day for the best results.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Target and Walmart
Shop the Best Face Moisturizer for Black Skin
SheaMoisture Balancing Moisturizer for Dry Skin African Black Soap
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Balancing Moisturizer is a face and body lotion that keeps skin hydrated while balancing oily to combination skin.
This lightweight lotion for dry skin combines ethically sourced Shea Butter with moisture-rich oils to deeply moisturize skin.
Blended with Black soap and fair trade Shea Butter, this moisturizer contains no parabens, phthalates, or mineral oil.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer
This award-winning water gel formula absorbs quickly like a gel but has a cream’s long-lasting, intense moisturizing power.
Formulated with hyaluronic acid attracts and locks moisture into the skin. The oil-free face moisturizer will keep skin looking smooth, supple, and hydrated day after day.
It can be worn as a moisturizing mask or under makeup, leaving your skin supple and smooth.
Oil-free and non-comedogenic, so they won’t clog pores. A great moisturizer for dark skin types with oily or acne-prone skin.
Shop this Face moisturizer: Target and Walmart
The Best Body Moisturizers for Black Skin
When shopping for the best body moisturizer for black skin, remember to consider skin-loving ingredients like shea butter, Jahoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, lanolin, and more.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Lotion
Palmer’s is a leader in moisturizers for black skin. My daughter loves it!
This 48-hour cocoa butter daily moisturizing body lotion features a light cocoa scent & provides deep hydration for all skin types, from normal to dry to eczema-prone skin.
This lotion is made with cocoa butter and vitamin E to naturally moisturize and help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and skin imperfections, giving a more even and toned appearance
Shop this Body moisturizer: Target, Walmart and Amazon
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Body Lotion
This body lotion from Nubian Heritage is perfect for dry or sensitive skin and dark skin types.
It contains African black soap, known for its ability to moisturize and protect the skin, and shea butter and aloe vera to soothe and nourish your skin.
African Black Soap Body Lotion from Nubian Heritage banishes dull, dry skin with hard-working, skin-loving ingredients that leave behind radiant and glowing skin.
This silky African black soap lotion, body butter, and moisturizer daily removes the appearance of dark spots on blemish-prone skin and enhances your natural glow.
African Black Soap body lotion and dry skin treatment are great for ashy elbows, rough feet, or cracked skin on hands.
Find this Body moisturizer: Walmart and Amazon
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Cream
This amazing moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and MVE technology, leaving skin smooth while absorbing quickly without a greasy, sticky feel.
Formulated with three essential ceramides to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier, which heals dry, ashy skin.
CeraVe Skincare is suitable for dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, acne-prone, and more.
It can be used on the face and body or as a hand cream for dry skin relief.
Fragrance-free, paraben-free, allergy-tested, and non-comedogenic.
Find this Body moisturizer: Walmart, Target, and Ulta Beauty
Cetaphil Moisturizing Body Lotion
This lightweight moisturizing lotion from Cetaphil is perfect for all skin types and dry or sensitive skin.
This fast-absorbing, non-greasy body lotion is ideal for the entire body and instantly soothes and hydrates dry skin.
It contains hydrating glycerin and skin vitamins B5 (panthenol) and B3 (niacinamide)
Cetaphil Moisturizing body lotion is a hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic formula free of fragrances, parabens, and sulfates.
Dermatologist recommended for Sensitive Skin
Find this Body moisturizer: Ulta Beauty, Walmart.com and Target
Eucerin Advanced Repair Moisturizing Cream
This moisturizing body lotion is wonderful for very dry skin.
Eucerin Body Cream for dry skin is enriched with Ceramides-3 and Natural Moisturizing Factors to hydrate and protect the skin.
The lightweight and fast-absorbing formula smooths, repairs, and hydrates dry skin and is paraben-free, fragrance-free, and dye-free!
SheaMoisture Even and Radiant Lotion with Raw Honey
SheaMoisture Even and Radiant Lotion is a moisturizer for the face that helps improve skin tone and texture.
This lotion contains natural ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil, which help to nourish and hydrate the skin.
SheaMoisture even and radiant lotion manuka honey, known for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
This lotion is also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and gluten.
Find this Body moisturizer: Target, Walmart.com, and CVS.com
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Skin Protectant
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Skin Protectant helps with ashy, dry skin.
Aquaphor heals and protects the most delicate skin without clogging pores. It is also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-greasy.
Aquaphor works well on chapped lips, eczema, diaper rash, and other skin irritations such as insect bites and stings
Find this Body moisturizer: Target, Walmart.com, and CVS.com
FAQs: The Best Moisturizers for Black Skin
FAQ: Moisturizers for Black Skin
Q: What specific ingredients should I look for in a moisturizer for black skin?
Look for moisturizers containing ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera.
These skin-loving ingredients provide deep hydration without leaving a greasy residue and help maintain the natural moisture barrier of black skin.
Q: Can I use the same moisturizer for my face and body if I have black skin?
While some moisturizers are designed for both face and body, it’s essential to consider the specific needs of the skin on your face versus your body.
Opt for lighter, non-comedogenic formulas for the face to avoid clogged pores and breakouts, while thicker creams may be more suitable for drier areas on the body.
Q: Are there any moisturizer ingredients I should avoid for black skin?
Avoid moisturizers containing harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, as these can irritate and dry out black skin.
Additionally, mineral oil and petrolatum-based products can clog pores and exacerbate acne and other skin concerns.
Q: How often should I moisturize my black skin?
It’s recommended to moisturize black skin at least twice daily—once in the morning and again at night—after cleansing.
But if your skin feels dry or tight throughout the day, consider applying moisturizer more frequently.
Q: Can I use natural oils as moisturizers for black skin?
Yes, natural oils like argan oil, coconut oil, and almond oil can be effective moisturizers for black skin.
Q: How can I prevent ashiness on my black skin?
To prevent ashiness, make sure that you’re moisturizing regularly with a hydrating lotion or cream like I’ve listed above.
For added benefit, exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells that can contribute to dryness and ashiness.
Opt for gentle exfoliants like chemical exfoliants containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to avoid irritation.
Related: Why Exfoliate? And How to do it right
Q: Can I use sunscreen as a moisturizer for black skin?
While some sunscreens offer moisturizing properties, it’s essential to use a separate moisturizer underneath if your sunscreen doesn’t provide enough hydration.
Look for sunscreens with added moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin to keep black skin hydrated and protected from UV damage.
Q: Is it necessary to use a night cream for black skin?
Using a night cream can be beneficial for black skin, as it provides additional hydration and nourishment while your skin repairs and rejuvenates overnight.
Look for night creams with ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, and peptides to target specific concerns like hyperpigmentation and fine lines.
Shop The Best Moisturizer for Black Skin
Conclusion: The Best Moisturizer for Black Skin
I hope this article helped you in your quest to find the best moisturizer for black skin!
These products are all great products for moisturizing skin and keeping it healthy. Which face or body moisturizer are you going to try? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time,
XO, Christine
I’ve been keeping it real since 1963. 🙂
I’m a child of God, a wifey, mama, grandma, full-time creative, domestic engineer, and self-care enthusiast.
I am obsessed with all things makeup and skincare and love getting my hands dirty out in the garden, my art room, or in the kitchen, whipping up something yummy for the fam.
I’m always down to chat and love collaborating with other creatives and brands alike!
Feel free to reach out anytime!
